CAPACITIVE TOUCH SURFACE FOR POWERING-UP AN ELECTRONIC PERSONAL DISPLAY

• US 20150002449A1
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Kobo Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rakuten Kobo Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: LEWIS, Damian, SOOD, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US13/931,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20150002449A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A method and system for utilizing a capacitive touch surface for powering-up an electronic personal display is disclosed. One example provides a capacitive touch sensing surface on a housing of the electronic personal display. The capacitive touch sensing surface is continuously monitored. In so doing, when at least one touch is detected by the capacitive touch sensing surface, the electronic personal display is powered up.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing a capacitive touch surface for powering-up an electronic personal display, said method comprising:

providing a capacitive touch sensing surface on a housing of the electronic personal display;

continuously monitoring the capacitive touch sensing surface; and

powering-up the electronic personal display when at least one touch is detected by the capacitive touch sensing surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic personal display is an electronic reader (eReader).

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a capacitive touch sensing surface on a screen of the electronic personal display.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing no hard buttons on the electronic personal display.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

powering-up the electronic personal display when contact is detected by the capacitive touch sensing surface on at least two generally oppositely areas.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the capacitive touch surface is selected from the group consisting of:

a grid of conductive lines, a coat of metal, and a flexible printed circuit grid.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

utilizing directional sensitivity in the capacitive touch sensing surface to provide touch-based gesture capability.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

powering-down the electronic personal display when a power-down gesture is detected by the capacitive touch sensing surface.

9. An electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up comprising:

a capacitive touch sensing screen of the electronic personal display;

a capacitive touch sensing housing of the electronic personal display;

a monitoring module to monitor both the capacitive touch sensing screen and housing and provide an output when a touch is recognized, the monitoring module operating even when the electronic personal display is powered-down; and

a power adjusting module to receive the output from the always on module and power up the electronic personal display.

10. The electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up of claim 9 wherein the electronic personal display is an electronic reader (eReader).

11. The electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up of claim 9 wherein the always on module provides the output when a single touch is recognized.

12. The electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up of claim 9 wherein the always on module provides the output when a touch from at least two distinct locations is recognized.

13. The electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up of claim 12 wherein the at least two distinct locations are generally oppositely disposed.

14. The electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up of claim 9 further comprising:

the always on module to provide a power-down signal when a power-down gesture is detected; and

a power-down module to reduce power to the electronic personal display when the power-down signal is received from the always on module.

15. The electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up of claim 9 wherein the capacitive touch sensing surface includes directional sensitivity.

16. A method for utilizing a capacitive touch surface for powering-up an electronic reader (eReader), said method comprising:

providing a capacitive touch sensing surface on a housing and a screen of the eReader;

continuously monitoring the capacitive touch sensing surface when the eReader is at less than full power; and

returning the eReader to full power when at least one touch is detected by the capacitive touch sensing surface.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

providing no hard buttons on the eReader.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader when contact is detected by the capacitive touch sensing surface on at least two generally oppositely areas.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the capacitive touch surface is selected from the group consisting of:

a grid of conductive lines, a coat of metal, and a flexible printed circuit grid.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

utilizing directional sensitivity in the capacitive touch sensing surface to provide touch-based gesture capability.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-down the eReader when a power-down gesture is detected by the capacitive touch sensing surface.

22. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader when a predefined shape is drawn on the capacitive touch sensing surface.

23. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader when a contact is made for a predetermined period of time in a specific location.

24. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader when a touch motion occurs in a specific direction for a predefined length.

25. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader when a contact is made using a series of touches with a predetermined pattern.

26. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader by tapping the eReader onto a hand in a series of taps or pattern.

27. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader after a pattern of touches is recognized by anthropometric rules implemented in a software system.

28. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader when a multi-part gesture is performed.